Migraine and Headache Articles

Informative and Educational Migraine and Headache Articles

These articles are listed in alphabetical order. You can search the page by hitting the control and F keys on your keyboard simultaneously. In Internet Explorer and Safari, a search box opens below the top browser bar. In Firefox, it opens above the bottom browser bar.

Abdominal Migraine - The BasicsAbdominal Migraine is a form of Migraine seen mainly in children. It's most common in children ages five- to nine-years-old, but can occur in adults as well. Abdominal Migraine consists primarily of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Back To School With Migraines or HeadachesWhen your child has a chronic illness, whether it's headaches, Migraines, or a different illness entirely, we really can't afford to put off getting our children ready for school. There are extra steps that need to be taken.

Basilar-Type Migraine - the BasicsBasilar-Type Migraine (BTM), also called "Basilar Artery Migraine," is marked by aura symptoms originating in the brainstem such as temporary blindness or decreased levels of consciousness.

Can Migraine Protect Memory?Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have released surprising study results. Women with a lifetime history of Migraine showed less of a performance decline over time on cognitive tests than women who didn’t have Migraines

Cervicogenic Headache - The BasicsCervicogenic headache is referred pain perceived in the head from a source in the neck. Referred pain is pain that is felt at a location other than where the cause is located.

Cortex Area of Brain Thicker in People with MigraineA study published in the November 20, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, indicates that people with Migraines have differences in part of the cortex, an area of the brain that helps process sensory information, including pain.

Depression in Women with Migraine Linked to Childhood AbuseAccording to a study published in the September 4, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, childhood abuse is more common in women with Migraine who suffer depression than in women with Migraine alone.

Disability Benefits – SSI and SSDISSI and SSDI disability programs are administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

Doctors’ Scores on Communication Predict Complaints to AuthoritiesPatients who feel that their relationship with their doctors is lacking two-way communication will be especially interested in a JAMA article released today. Tamblyn et al concluded, “Scores achieved in patient-physician communication and clinical decision making on a national licensing examination predicted complaints to medical regulatory authorities.”

Famous Migraineurs: Carly SimonCarly Simon, singer/songwriter, wife and mother, has been able to have both a family and a career, despite having Migraine disease.

Famous Migraineurs: Thomas JeffersonDid you also know Thomas Jefferson suffered from what some theorize to have been Migraines, tension-type headaches or even cluster headaches, throughout his prolific career?

Famous Migraineurs: Gustav MahlerComposer and conductor Gustav Mahler was a truly inspiring musician. The fact that he composed and conducted despite Migraines takes him a notch above amazing.

Famous Migraineurs: Sharon StoneActress Sharon Stone is a fellow Migraineur. She also had an experience that demonstrates that we need to see our doctors when we have the "worst Migraine ever."

Good Sunglasses – Vital for Migraine and Eye HealthWhether it's the height of summer or the depths of winter, good sunglasses are a necessity. Not only are they vital to help us avoid headaches and Migraines, but they're vital to good eye health. Be sure to shop wisely for sunglasses, then remember to wear them!

IV Treatment of Refractory MigrainesRefractory Migraines — Migraines that are not responding to treatment — can present significant issues for Migraineurs, including status migrainosus. Dr. John Claude Krusz has been working toward more effective treatments for such headaches and Migraines and has found several IV treatments that are extremely successful.

Ice Pick Headaches - The BasicsIce pick headaches are stabbing, extremely intense headaches that can be absolutely terrifying. They generally only last between five and 30 seconds. However, they come out of nowhere, can strike anywhere on the head, literally feel as if an ice pick is being stuck into your head, then disappear before you can even figure out what's happening.

Is It Migraine? Tension-Type Headache? What?Here it is, another day and another day with head pain. What to do... Migraine abortives... pain medication? sleep? relaxation exercises? It all depends on what kind of head pain you have.

Managing Migraine – Migraine Trigger FoodsMigraine triggers are physical things that bring on a Migraine attack when a Migraineur is exposed to them. Learn more about how to identify and avoid your Migraine trigger foods. Includes free downloadable workbook.

Migraine Preventive Topamax May Cause Birth DefectsA study published in the July 22, 2008, issue of Neurology®, indicates that taking the neuronal stabilizing agent (epilepsy drug) Topamax (topiramate) alone or along with other neuronal stabilizing agents during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects.

Migraine Without Aura - the BasicsMigraine without aura, formerly called "common migraine," is a neurological disease often characterized by headaches that occur on one side in the head and are pulsating or throbbing.

Migraines, Dietary Supplements, and a Final FDA RuleDietary supplements are an important part of many treatment regimens for headache and Migraine prevention. When we buy supplements, most of us assume that we’re getting exactly what the label says we’re getting. That’s not always the case. Some supplements pose health risks. They may contain harmful ingredients or be improperly manufactured or handled. An FDA rule addresses these issues.

Migraines Often Triggered By Change In the WeatherMigraine sufferers may be able to avoid triggering some of the excruciating attacks by skipping the red wine with dinner and forgoing the chocolate mousse for dessert, but there's little they can do about one of the most common Migraine triggers: the weather. Half of Migraine sufferers were sensitive to weather variables, but most were wrong in their prediction of which climate variable was the culprit, according to findings of a study presented at the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society (AHS).

Migraines, Perfume, and the Americans with Disabilities ActIt happens to Migraineurs again and again - we go to work and the people around us wear perfumes or strong scented deodorants or lotions or aftershaves. Their scents trigger Migraines, and we can't work. We have to go home, use our sick leave, maybe our pay is docked. Our work performance suffers, our budget suffers. If we...

More Research Links Migraine With Aura and Stroke in WomenIn the last few years, studies have been released about Migraine and stroke risk, and Migraine and cardiovascular disease in both women and men. To all of this information, we can now add information from the Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study.

NHF Survey – Migraine-Specific Medications vs. Nonspecific Medications for Acute TreatmentAn online survey of Migraineurs and physicians commissioned by the National Headache Foundation and conducted by Harris Interactive shows that 20 percent of Migraine patients are currently taking “potentially addictive medications that contain barbiturates or opioids and have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the relief of Migraines.”

Need to Apply for Disability? Help Your Doctor Help You.A number of our forum members have had problems where insurance companies denied their Migraine-related disability claims. Sometimes the reason the insurers give is that they do not see evidence of disability in the medical records. For those of us who suffer with Migraines most days, this seems ridiculous! It's obvious, isn't it? You can't work..

New Daily Persistent Headache – The BasicsAlthough NDPH shares some symptoms with tension-type headache, it is unique in that many patients can pinpoint the date their headache began. Many doctors consider NDPH to be the most treatment refractory (not responsive to treatment) of headache disorders. Unfortunately, NDPH can be very disabling because it often does not respond to preventive or abortive medications.

Occipital Nerve Stimulation for Migraine and Headache Prevention - 2008 UpdateThe use of occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) for the prevention of Migraines and headaches is in clinical trials and has been of great interest to those sufferers with intractable Migraines and headaches that do not respond well to treatment. The first clinical trial data has now been released, shedding some light on how well the treatment works and what may lie ahead.

Ocular, Optical, and Opthalmic MigrainesAlthough many individuals are diagnosed with optical, ocular, and opthalmic Migraine, these are not standard diagnoses according to the International Headache Society. Find out what these types of Migraine are more commonly called.

Potential Vision Issues with TopamaxIn September of 2001, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. issued a warning statement regarding potential side effects of Topamax, which may include acute myopia and glaucoma.

Seven Healthy Habits of Headache and Migraine SufferersIn observance of the 14th annual National Headache Awareness Week (NHAW), June 3 -9, the National Headache Foundation (NHF) is focusing attention on Seven Healthy Habits of Headache Sufferers. National Headache Awareness Week is an effort to provide practical advice to headache and Migraine sufferers to help reduce headache and Migraine risk and live life more fully when affected by headaches and Migraine disease.

The Significance of a Bump on the HeadNatasha Richardson, talented actress and mother of two, was skiing in Canada with her family last week when her life was cut short by a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Status Migrainous - The BasicsA Migraine attack lasting longer than 72 hours is often indicative of "status Migrainous" a condition requiring immediate medical attention due to an increased risk of stroke.

Stopping Medication Overuse Can Halt Transformed MigraineWhen medications that are being overused and leading to medication overuse headaches are discontinued, there is significant improvement in headache frequency, and transformed Migraine reverts back to episodic Migraine without chronic daily headache.

Stroke – The BasicsMigraine disease can increase risk of strokes, sometimes called "brain attacks," Let's take a look at the basics of what strokes are and how to prevent them.

Supplements for Migraine - They ARE DrugsEveryone would love to keep treatment as "natural" as possible, but it's essential to remember that these products are drugs too, complete with potential side effects and contraindications.

Tension-Type Headaches - the BasicsMore than 78% of the world population experiences tension-type headache. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of tension-type headache, or TTH.

What is My Doctor Allowed to Do?We had several readers ask questions on the site recently about doctor conduct, and what their doctors are legally allowed to do. This is a wide ranging topic area and I won't try to cover all of it in this sharepost, but will dip into it to address these two questions. This sharepost is legal education, not legal advice. No attorney-client...

Working with Migraines: Rights under the Americans with Disabilities ActHow can you keep working with Migraines? What does your employer have to do to help? Last week we talked about McBride v. City of Detroit, where a chemically sensitive employee made out enough of a case under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to withstand a motion to dismiss. Her employer had refused to put in a perfume-free...

Yes, Migraines Can Cause Brain DamageStudy results are again indicating that Migraineurs who experience frequent Migraine attacks and/or have a long history of Migraines are at increased risk of "silent brain damage," brain damage.

Your Role On Your Health Care TeamAn excerpt from "Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches."It’s critical that we be active members of our health care teams. Those of us with chronic headaches and Migraine Disease need to be able to make basic treatment decisions when we have a headache or Migraine.